My MK1 MGZR+ 105. Love and hate.

[MGZRod]

Right, where to start? The reason for posting this is that the car is in the garage getting the head gasket done!
This is my first car, kinda!
End of 2009, bought a mk1 trophy blue ZR, mint, low miles. Died the weekend we got it so got our money back and went hunting for another!
Found a nice one for sale in a Nissan dealer just beside knockhill! 'twas in great nick, only 30*** on the clock and great condition.
So it was bought. No problems until one night, got a call from our neighbour at about 4am to say my car alarm was going off.

It began. It would constantly be doing this, at the worst times of the day. Intermittently so nothing would come up on diagnostics. Lots of things changed, lots of money spent!
That eventually fixed itself. Then had a relatively free time of motoring for a good while!
Passed my test in June last year. Was great, and the perfect first car for it. Sunroof. Room for all my mates, and a half decent stereo as standard!

Come MOT time last year, track rod end needed replaced. No biggie! Advisories for rear tyres and a crack on windshield. Not too fussed as these things happen.

Ended up needing 4 new tyres less than a month later, and with 205/45/17 tyres you don't get them cheap. so 230 squid or so lighter I had four new wanlis on it. Nom.

Them, boom, the cat went, and it wasn't just knackered. It had split! So my car sounded like mustang had a baby with a impreza, then dropped it on it's head when it was born. A nice £140 for a used cat and fitting.

And now, it's sat in the garage waiting to be finished off, poor thing.

Will post pictures and such in a minute. All done from phone so Is a pita.

It's not the best car, nor the most reliable. But it's been great and I would recommend one!

Pic time!
The day I passed my test:

Surviving snow in 2009

Fixing the heatshield! No laughing.

After a night of attacking snow with my friend in his ZS

My brake cooling system. That is ice on the side of the car!


Suppose this is the last swansong of the ZR, will be getting rid before too long and looking into the world of motorbikes!

Edited by MGZRod on Sunday 20th March 16:59

Edited by MGZRod on Sunday 20th March 17:02

[MGZRod]

Seems you lot don't like rovers

Got it back today! And treated it to a good clean, clay, wax and polish with help of a mate. Also got a ph sticker wapped on!


Mega shiny

[MGZRod]

stabbed rat said:

I will, bite if nobody else wants to Nice car, the Gray and Blue are the 2 best colours

When it comes time to part ways, would you get the 140 version or move onto something else?

Trophy blue and xpower grey are definitely my favourites. Completely biased of course.
I'd love to get a 120 or 160, (there's no 140 ) but whilst I still love the car, I've fallen out of love with the constant foibles and trips to the garage!

[MGZRod]

stabbed rat said:

well i knew it was something like that I wouldn't say no to an MG ZS 180 for track use

A ZS would be a nice upgrade if I'm honest, would like one. But dontthink the parents would let me and no doubt I'd regret it.

Been looking at mk2 MR2 2 litres for a while, tempting!

[MGZRod]

soad said:

I like your style - one goes boom, you just go and have to buy another!

Yeah, looks decent and great colour. Shame bout the little niggles
Going to sell it soon?

What can I say, I wanted more than 2 days with it aye will most likely be selling soon. Can't afford for more to go wrong sadly!

Couldn't have asked for a better car though, it's a nippy wee thing for a 1.4, and with the induction cone it sounds vaguely entertaining
Even my friend who's a hardcore ford fan and has turned to liking it!

[MGZRod]

robsco said:

Like the car, prefer the two stickers.

only stickers I'd put on like where I put them too. Subtle.

[MGZRod]

pmanson said:

Very nice, always liked these...

Here's a pic of it's big brother that is currently sat on my drive:

Edited by pmanson on Tuesday 22 March 20:37

Looks great

pmanson said:

ETA if you think 17" tyres were expensive try the 18's!

I'd rather not

[MGZRod]

SlowStig said:

Looks a nice car, I am guessing you are on MG-Rover.org? Its nice to see a late registered mk1 as I do think they look better than the facelift mk2 and have less electrical gremlins! The 1.4 16v is a peach of an engine, I have a slightly fettled one in my metro and it goes bloody quick but I also know that a ZR is much more comfy on a motorway/long distace

I'm not on .org, I do occasionally go on for a nosey but I go on themgzr.co.uk a fair bit (lurk, its a bit cliquey!)
Mines had a good few electrical gremlins that said
Tis a great car and engine, must be great fun in the metro!

[MGZRod]

£110! Ouch, prices for mine when I was getting (and tried everywhere!) was £8* a corner for wanli's. I wanted contis on again but they were around £130 a corner. Bloody obscure size in 17" form. Only a couple places had that size in stock, and the place I got it from only had 2 and had to order another 2 in.

Meh.

[MGZRod]

Alx323 said:

Loving the ZR OP! Nothing wrong with a Rover... I (kind of) have a 216 cabriolet, won't have a bad word said! Stick with them

My mother used to have one of them when I was around 6! Loved it aha. I do love rover'MG! Just need a break. Hopefully my next mg will be a SV

[MGZRod]

Ian974 said:

Only in a rover thread would you find an exploded catalyst, haywire alarm and head gasket listed as 'little niggles'!
Rod, how you decided that the 1st one going bang within a day or two wasn't a sign, I'll never know! haha
I'll be over to swap my 'niggly' thermostat at the weekend

They are only minor foibles Ian! You should knowhave experience of this
Had a wee drive today using the last bit of petrol I could afford until tomorrow. Deicded I don't want rid of it And next car needs a sunroof or no roof! Don't want to go into a full tin can!